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My youngest son leaves for Great Lakes (Navy bootcamp) on Jan 22nd. He's a tall, lanky guy w/not alot of meat on his bones, so I know he's gonna freeze his ***** off.
What else does he need to watch for? Any advice? (for him OR his parents...)

Finished Basic trng in Canada in June and it lasted 14 weeks. He needs to be able to do at least 19 push ups. Two tall guys in my platoon couldn't do them as their frame was so long.
Then there is the 19 hr work days and PT twice a day along with ruck sack marches and lots of verbal abuse and group punishment for the individuals failings that are a part of training that a lot of recruits find difficult to tolerate.

I am sure your son will do fine. It is only a matter of remembering that all one's buddies are going through the same thing. Knowing that really helps. That is where the bonding begins.
I wish him the best of luck in his endeavours.

Finished Basic trng in Canada in June and it lasted 14 weeks. He needs to be able to do at least 19 push ups. Two tall guys in my platoon couldn't do them as their frame was so long.
Then there is the 19 hr work days and PT twice a day along with ruck sack marches and lots of verbal abuse and group punishment for the individuals failings that are a part of training that a lot of recruits find difficult to tolerate.

I am sure your son will do fine. It is only a matter of remembering that all one's buddies are going through the same thing. Knowing that really helps. That is where the bonding begins.
I wish him the best of luck in his endeavours.

What is going to do in the Navy? Either way tell him to listen to his LPOs and Chiefs, keep his mouth shut till he has enough on the job to know how to do it and have some humility. The military is about the team and not the person, sometimes taking one for the team is more important than being the center of attention. *

Common sense said if he is told something that sound way out to lunch than to ask about it.

He's signed up to be an Aircraft Mechanic-Hydralics.
I've told him SEVERAL times about keeping his mouth closed. He's not mouthy anyway, but he's NOT a "morning person". He hates getting up early, and I told him that's "part of the deal!"

Make sure he signed up for the GI Bill & College Fund. Also, when he gets to his permanent duty station he needs to find the satellite college campus on base. Most if not all bases have this. The Navy will give him tuition assistance to pay for school and it won't count against his GI Bill or College Fund $$$. There's no reason why he can't get a minimum of an Associate's during his 1st tour. Since he's going in to aviation field I would highly recommend Embry Riddle. They're a top-notch institution and have satellite campuses as well as online classes. They will also give credit for his Navy schools. http://www.erau.edu/

I think he will find recruit training challenging and rewarding. Instruction has come a long way in the last decade from the classroom through "Battle Stations", the final test. There are fitness standards and his recruiter should be running a pre-PT test prior to his departure for training. It is not that difficult. If he can perform 50 push ups, 50 sit ups, and run 1 1/2 miles in under 13 minutes he will do fine. He should of been given a "Delayed Entry Program" Booklet. This is for him to study and obtain naval knowledge on items such as rank, first aid, customs, abbreviations, and naval tradition. This will help him considerably in training and possibly help in accelerated advancement. As stated earlier when he arrives at recruit training he will be offered the Montgomery GI Bill. This is a one time offer. Do not turn it down. It amounts to 100.00 a month coming directly from his paycheck for 12 months. So 1200.00 total. This investment pays out just under 40,000 for college. It can be used anywhere from 2 years of service until 10 years after ones discharge. The navy also has tuition assistance, currently 100% up to 15 semester hours per year free. Here is a link for some more educational information including Embry-Riddle.

AM "A" Scool should be located in Pensacola, FL. A Beautiful place, I was stationed there for a number of years. He will be arriving just in time to constantly see the Blue Angels rehearsing for thier summer/fall shows.

He'll pass the physical part no problem. If he can't, then he shouldn't serve anyway. I definitely agree that he should keep his mouth shut no matter how smart or capable he is. Tell him to just do his PQS and get warfare qualled ahead of his peers, that pretty much will guarantee you a good eval. What's he doing after boot camp?

Okay, I see that he'll be an airdale, Pensacola is nice, I was just there last month. I would check out Arizona's benefits on college before electing for the GI Bill. I chose the GI bill but in my state, we have the Hazelwood act which gives you 150 credit hours tuition at a state school, BUT you have to use up your GI bill first. Career guys have little use for the GI Bill, had I elected a bonus, I could've invested it and been happier than with the GI Bill. If he plans on only doing his first enlistment and getting out, the gi bill can help.

One thing I would've done differently: Set up a Roth IRA before shipping out, and setting up an allotment to max it out every year. Retiring after 20 years on an enlisted salary is only possible if you have a good amount of money saved, another job, or you retire to a 3rd world country.

Also, prepare yourself for a lengthy deployments. He has a good chance of ending up on a carrier and they do the longest deployments in the Navy.

1. You can learn more with your mouth shut than you can with it open.
2. Say "Yes and No Sir" to Officers NOT CHIEFS! He'll learn that the
hard way the first time he does it to a CPO.
3. Repeat 1.
4. If he's not a morning person, he soon will be.
5. Tell him to get all the college credits he can while he is on active duty.
6. Repeat 1.

Tell him to get an overseas billet if at all possible. Travel and have a good time.

+1 to keeping your mouth shut. I went through boot in '02 and have been out the Navy about a yr now. "Eyes open, mouth closed, head on a swivel."

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+2

The only advice my Grandfather told me was to keep quiet, do what you are told, and don't stand out. Trust me, I saw the idiot's that didn't heed that advice! At the end of my boot camp (San Diego)... the company commanders were like.... uh, who are you? ....Bingo!

He just left for bootcamp a little while ago this afternoon.
I knew today was coming, but it's not any easier. The house is WAY too quiet.
Tomorrow for him will NOT be quiet, though.
I passed along all of the "keep your mouth shut" advice; his recruiter told him the same thing.

Well, good luck, this is not the time of year I would pick to be in No. Chicago. Lots of Great Lakes memories, I think our first paychecks were $28.50 for two weeks; later on, $55.00/mo combat pay didn't seem half bad.

How many weeks does basic last these days? Once he gets his time in, he'll do fine and learn a little street savvy along the way.

I never made it to the fleet and wore fatigues most of my enlistment, so much for seeing the world.

Well, good luck, this is not the time of year I would pick to be in No. Chicago. Lots of Great Lakes memories, I think our first paychecks were $28.50 for two weeks; later on, $55.00/mo combat pay didn't seem half bad.

How many weeks does basic last these days? Once he gets his time in, he'll do fine and learn a little street savvy along the way.

I never made it to the fleet and wore fatigues most of my enlistment, so much for seeing the world.

Bob

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Basic is 8 weeks; after that he'll be in Pensecola for 5-6 weeks for his "A" school.

1. You will learn more with your ears and eyes open and your mouth shut.
2. Pay attention to detail.
3. "NEVER" say sir to a "CHIEF" This would happen only once.
4. Do the best you can. Never do enough just to get buy.
5. When he gets out of "A" school get advice and learn from the guys who have been on the job for awhile. Graduating "A" school does not mean you know it all or what your doing.
6. Have HONOR and INTEGRITY be a man of your word and be the best you can. Always strive to be better.
7. Enjoy your hitch.

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